Web slang - Atheist Nexus2015-03-03T21:21:34Zhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/web-slang?groupUrl=hangwithfriends&commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A2290194&xg_source=activity&groupId=2182797%3AGroup%3A1248185&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWe don't. I just use commas w…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-24:2182797:Comment:22907822013-08-24T21:47:23.562ZNatalie A Serahttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/NatalieASera
<p>We don't. I just use commas where they feel appropriate to me, and I don't give ratsass what anyone else thinks. But on the other hand, I rarely, if ever, misspell words, and I only use "bad" grammar when writing colloquially for stylistic reasons. And I'm capable of understanding what register is appropriate for which occasion. Wherefore most people DO know I'm educated, although they mostly think I'm "smart"!</p>
<p>We don't. I just use commas where they feel appropriate to me, and I don't give ratsass what anyone else thinks. But on the other hand, I rarely, if ever, misspell words, and I only use "bad" grammar when writing colloquially for stylistic reasons. And I'm capable of understanding what register is appropriate for which occasion. Wherefore most people DO know I'm educated, although they mostly think I'm "smart"!</p> The punctuation help that cur…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-24:2182797:Comment:22905062013-08-24T08:24:11.223Ztom sarbeckhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/TomSarbeck
<p>The punctuation help that curled my toes is in the Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition.</p>
<p>To see if you're using a comma correctly, go to section 5-29 on page 165:</p>
<p><em>The comma, perhaps the most versatile.... There are a few rules....</em></p>
<p>The rules start with 5-30 on compound sentences and end with 5-83 on maxims, proverbs... (page 179), I count sixty four rules.</p>
<p>How else do we distinguish educated folk from the others?</p>
<p></p>
<p>The punctuation help that curled my toes is in the Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition.</p>
<p>To see if you're using a comma correctly, go to section 5-29 on page 165:</p>
<p><em>The comma, perhaps the most versatile.... There are a few rules....</em></p>
<p>The rules start with 5-30 on compound sentences and end with 5-83 on maxims, proverbs... (page 179), I count sixty four rules.</p>
<p>How else do we distinguish educated folk from the others?</p>
<p></p> Eric Whitacre's "Animal Crack…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-24:2182797:Comment:22904122013-08-24T05:59:59.287ZGrinning Cathttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/GrinningCat
<p>Eric Whitacre's "Animal Crackers" is what introduced me to those poems!</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>THE PANTHER</strong><br></br> The panther is like a leopard,<br></br> Except it hasn’t been peppered.<br></br> If you behold a panther crouch,<br></br> Prepare to say Ouch.<br></br> Better yet, if called by a panther,<br></br> Don’t anther.</p>
<p><strong>THE COW</strong><br></br> The cow is of the bovine ilk;<br></br> One end is moo, the other milk.</p>
<p><strong>THE FIREFLY</strong><br></br> The firefly’s flame<br></br>Is…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Eric Whitacre's "Animal Crackers" is what introduced me to those poems!</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>THE PANTHER</strong><br/> The panther is like a leopard,<br/> Except it hasn’t been peppered.<br/> If you behold a panther crouch,<br/> Prepare to say Ouch.<br/> Better yet, if called by a panther,<br/> Don’t anther.</p>
<p><strong>THE COW</strong><br/> The cow is of the bovine ilk;<br/> One end is moo, the other milk.</p>
<p><strong>THE FIREFLY</strong><br/> The firefly’s flame<br/>Is something for which science has no name<br/> I can think of nothing eerier<br/> Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a<br/> Person’s posterior.</p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>This music and Animal Crackers <strong>Volume II</strong> at <a href="http://ericwhitacre.com/music-catalog/satb-choral/animal-crackers-vol-i-3" target="_blank">http://ericwhitacre.com/music-catalog/satb-choral/animal-crackers-vol-i-3</a></p> I couldn't understand the wor…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22904612013-08-23T21:02:07.990ZNatalie A Serahttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/NatalieASera
<p>I couldn't understand the words. Do you have a transcript?</p>
<p>I couldn't understand the words. Do you have a transcript?</p> That's a perfect example of p…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22902132013-08-23T20:29:22.891ZNatalie A Serahttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/NatalieASera
<p>That's a perfect example of prescriptionist vs. descriptionist dictionaries. Some people think that the language should not change, and are very reluctant to include new terms, even when they fill real needs. Others think that the more we play with it, and invent new things, then those that stick need to be accepted as real and included in dictionaries. I tend to have the second view, even though evolving usages sometimes make me grit my teeth, ("I've took English classes many times") and…</p>
<p>That's a perfect example of prescriptionist vs. descriptionist dictionaries. Some people think that the language should not change, and are very reluctant to include new terms, even when they fill real needs. Others think that the more we play with it, and invent new things, then those that stick need to be accepted as real and included in dictionaries. I tend to have the second view, even though evolving usages sometimes make me grit my teeth, ("I've took English classes many times") and especially when I see them in print. But I think each of us feels that we ARE using the language properly -- we have our own idiolects, and it FEELS right to us, even if not so to others. If we were REALLY prescriptionists, I think we'd still be communicating in "ughs" and we wouldn't have such a colorful way to express ourselves! :-)</p>
<p></p> Eric Whitacre is more than ju…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22903002013-08-23T19:48:54.621ZLoren Millerhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/LorenMiller
<p>Eric Whitacre is more than just a conductor; he's a composer who is bringing some genuine life into choral music. I've been listening to Eric's handiwork for over 10 years now, and his gift for creativity and engaging those who become involved in his music is something truly remarkable.<br/><br/>If you're interested in learning more about Eric, his music, and what he is about, please check out <a href="http://ericwhitacre.com/" target="_blank">Eric Whitacre's website</a>.</p>
<p>Eric Whitacre is more than just a conductor; he's a composer who is bringing some genuine life into choral music. I've been listening to Eric's handiwork for over 10 years now, and his gift for creativity and engaging those who become involved in his music is something truly remarkable.<br/><br/>If you're interested in learning more about Eric, his music, and what he is about, please check out <a href="http://ericwhitacre.com/" target="_blank">Eric Whitacre's website</a>.</p> Loren, this conductor is a ge…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22902042013-08-23T17:12:42.361ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Loren, this conductor is a genius at pulling people together in interesting and creative ways. He reminds me of the research on domestic violence. Conductors have the lowest domestic violence rates of all occupations measures. The researcher used incident rates for 10,000 by occupation. It seems conductors have control but violent means are not used. They find other ways to motivate people to a common cause.</p>
<p>Loren, this conductor is a genius at pulling people together in interesting and creative ways. He reminds me of the research on domestic violence. Conductors have the lowest domestic violence rates of all occupations measures. The researcher used incident rates for 10,000 by occupation. It seems conductors have control but violent means are not used. They find other ways to motivate people to a common cause.</p> Off-topic, I know, but this t…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22901942013-08-23T15:27:44.033ZLoren Millerhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/LorenMiller
<p>Off-topic, I know, but this triggered me big-time:<br/><br/><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BKIjiqVs5yc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<br/><br/>With two additional animals thrown in for good measure!</p>
<p>Off-topic, I know, but this triggered me big-time:<br/><br/><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BKIjiqVs5yc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<br/><br/>With two additional animals thrown in for good measure!</p> Another thing that "literally…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22904392013-08-23T15:18:23.912ZGrinning Cathttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/GrinningCat
<p>Another thing that "literally" gets my goat: that use of <strong>"literally" to mean "<em>not</em> literally</strong>, but figuratively, and feeling strongly about it". It's become a more polite version of "... that f---ing gets my goat...."</p>
<p>In 2011 the Oxford English Dictionary started recognizing that sense in informal contexts; the mainstream press seems to have noticed only this month. I …</p>
<p>Another thing that "literally" gets my goat: that use of <strong>"literally" to mean "<em>not</em> literally</strong>, but figuratively, and feeling strongly about it". It's become a more polite version of "... that f---ing gets my goat...."</p>
<p>In 2011 the Oxford English Dictionary started recognizing that sense in informal contexts; the mainstream press seems to have noticed only this month. I <a href="http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/linguaphiles/forum/topics/will-your-head-literally-explode-oed-recognizes-informal-use-of" target="_blank">posted on that</a> in Linguaphiles and Sesquipedalians.</p> From a man in Phoenix who pub…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-08-23:2182797:Comment:22903302013-08-23T07:59:29.602Ztom sarbeckhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/TomSarbeck
<p>From a man in Phoenix who published an alternative newspaper: <em>Freedom of the press belongs to people who own presses.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>From a man in Phoenix who published an alternative newspaper: <em>Freedom of the press belongs to people who own presses.</em></p>
<p></p>